Georgia Burgess is a freshman at North Carolina State University. In the summer of 2018, she will be traveling with a group of college-aged students on a 49-day, 4000+ mile run from San Francisco to New York City, raising money and awareness for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

What is your connection to the cancer community?

When I was 8 years old, I was told that my grandmother’s Lymphoma was back. When I was 15, I lost my grandfather to kidney failure after he lost his other kidney to cancer when I was younger. I watch as lung cancer slowly kills my aunt and makes her forget things that I know she would never otherwise forget. I watch as the woman I know and love is weakened by cancer and forced to slow down.

Additionally, on top of all this, the way that I am most connected today is through my best friend. My best friend’s mom was diagnosed with cancer a few years back and I see how it affects her and their family everyday. Over the last few years of our friendship, I have stood by my friend’s side and done everything I could think of to help her and her mom through this. Ultimately, I have wanted nothing more than a way to help her and her family know that I am in their corner and that is a part of what 4k means to me.

Why are you traveling 4,000 miles this summer with the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults?

I want to be able to use my passion for people and my passion for running to help people know that they are not alone and that they are strong enough to battle anything because they have a team on their side. For me, this is my way of knowing that I am finally helping not only the people I love, but also the loved ones of people across the nation while doing something that I love to do. I love running immensely, and I know that I would love it even more so knowing that I am using my passion for the sport to act upon my passion for helping change people’s lives. I want to be able to dedicate those 49 days of running to my best friend’s mom, to my grandmother, to my grandfather, and to all of the people who are connected to the cancer community.

ABOUT 2018 4K for Cancer

2018 marks the 17th year of the 4K for Cancer sending young adults on journeys across the country in an effort to inspire hope and unite communities in the fight against cancer. The 4K for Cancer is a program of The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults (UCF). Interested in joining the fight? Apply to be a rider or runner a at www.4kforcancer.org!

CHALLENGE:

Over 70,000 young adults are diagnosed with cancer every year. Young adults (ages 15-39) face a variety of unique challenges with a cancer diagnosis including fertility preservation, social isolation, lack of insurance, delayed diagnosis, and more.

SOLUTION:

The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults changes lives by creating a community of support for young adults, and their loved ones, impacted by cancer. With your support, the Ulman Cancer Fund is able to provide free support services and resources for the young adult cancer community including:

Cancer to 5K - a 12-week training program designed to introduce or reintroduce cancer survivors to physical activity.

Patient Navigation - a free program (onsite at cancer centers and remotely through our office) that ensures no young adult ever faces cancer alone. We provide one-on-one support & resources to young adults and their families to help them manage the cancer experience and long-term cancer survival.

Scholarships - a financial assistance program to help young adults continue their education after being affected by cancer through their own diagnosis or the diagnosis of a loved one.

UCF House - This year UCF broke ground on a “home away from home” to provide free housing for young adult cancer patients, and their caregivers, in East Baltimore.